DALLAS — In his calls and notes from Iraq, Army Pfc
Kristian Menchaca told relatives about his dangerous assignment at
military checkpoints. Family members of the 23-year-old Houston soldier
said Sunday they were hoping for Menchaca's safe return upon learning he
was one of two servicemen reported missing in Iraq after an insurgent
attack on a checkpoint on Friday.

"I was 95 percent sure he was one of them," Menchaca's
brother, Julio Cesar Vasquez, of Houston, told The Associated Press late
Sunday. "I already had an idea because he was at a
checkpoint."....

=============================================

Al Qaeda-linked group claims it kidnapped 2 U.S. soldiers

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An al
Qaeda-affiliated group on Monday claimed it kidnapped two U.S. soldiers
south of Baghdad, although the captives were not named.

The group -- Mujahedeen Shura Council -- made the unverified claim in
a statement posted on a Web site. It did not post images or video of the
soldiers as it has in the past.

The statement said, "the strongest army in the world is turned
around, ashamed of their failure [to find the soldiers] and we will give
you more information on the incident in the following days." .....

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of
Defense

No. 588-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jun 22, 2006 Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry(703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers
who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in the vicinity
of Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries sustained on or about June 16. Both
soldiers were previously listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown.
Their unit came under enemy small-arms fire while manning a checkpoint
during combat operations, and both soldiers were taken by enemy forces.
Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry
Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort
Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:

Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore.

Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of San Marcos, Texas

This incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public
Affairs at (703) 692-2000.